Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $5 million grant program to help New Jersey municipalities prepare for disasters by providing training, supply stockpiles, and technology for assisting residents with disaster relief applications. Administered by the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation, the program allows each municipality to receive up to $30,000 in funding, with priority determined by the Office of Emergency Management based on risk assessments. Municipalities must report annually on fund usage, improvements in emergency response, and current risks. The program directly affects local governments across New Jersey, aiming to streamline disaster assistance for residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue classic license plates replicating those from 1979-1991 for motor vehicle owners. Owners would pay a $50 one-time application fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee, with proceeds after covering program costs deposited into the Special Transportation Fund for state road projects. The program requires 500 pre-ordered plates and $25,000 in private funding before implementation, and may end if annual plate costs exceed $50 for two consecutive years. It does not use public funds for initial setup, relying instead on private contributions to cover design, production, and programming costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1481) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish standardized testing methods and reporting requirements for microplastics in drinking water by public water systems within one year. It mandates a two-year study by the DEP and Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to evaluate microplastics removal technologies, including costs, effectiveness, and stakeholder input from scientists, industry, and the public. The study must result in a strategic plan and public report within three months of completion, recommending how to promote these technologies. The bill directly affects public water systems, which must test and disclose microplastic levels, and aims to inform future policy through evidence-based recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's "90-Day Law" to exclude pipeline construction permits (including natural gas and petroleum product pipelines and related infrastructure like compressor stations) from automatic approval if the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) fails to act within 90 days. Currently, most construction permits automatically get approved after 90 days without DEP action, but this bill removes pipeline projects from that rule. The change directly affects pipeline developers seeking DEP permits for new infrastructure. It modifies the existing law to require the DEP to explicitly approve or deny these specific applications within the 90-day timeframe.

Maddy summaryAJR 88 adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) non-binding working definition of antisemitism for New Jersey, stating it as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews." This resolution serves as an educational tool for public officials, law enforcement, educators, and employees to recognize and address antisemitism, without creating new legal obligations. It explicitly clarifies that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of other nations does not constitute antisemitism, and emphasizes the definition is not intended to infringe on free speech protections under the First Amendment or New Jersey's Constitution. The bill references data showing 298 and 347 antisemitic bias incidents in New Jersey during 2020-2021, aiming to improve awareness and response to such incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides free admission to New Jersey State parks, forests, and beaches for two groups: (1) all New Jersey-resident veterans (defined as honorably discharged service members), and (2) active-duty military personnel (including reserves) who are either New Jersey residents or stationed in the state. It expands existing exemptions that previously covered only National Guard members after basic training, seniors 62+, and disabled residents. The bill amends current law to remove residency barriers for active military personnel and explicitly includes all veterans under the free access provision. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 25% tax credit for New Jersey taxpayers covering qualifying educational expenses for dependent children under 18. It applies to tuition, required school supplies (like notebooks and calculators), instructional materials (textbooks), annual school fees, transportation to nonpublic schools (paid directly to the school), extracurricular activity fees, music equipment rentals, and school field trip fees. The credit is capped at $500 per child per year and excludes tutoring, yearbooks, class rings, regular clothing, and college entrance exam fees. It specifically targets expenses paid for children attending nonpublic schools that meet state attendance and civil rights requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits county election boards from selecting or using any school or schoolhouse as a polling place for any election in New Jersey. It amends two sections of state election law (R.S.19:8-2 and R.S.19:8-3) to explicitly ban schools from being designated as voting locations, overriding previous provisions that allowed schools to be considered. The bill does not affect the use of other public buildings, such as libraries or community centers, as polling places. This change directly impacts county election boards (which select voting locations) and school authorities (which no longer need to make school buildings available for elections).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors performing specific construction services - like civil design, engineering, or plumbing design - for public projects funded by government or educational funds to carry specialized errors and omissions insurance. It directly affects construction professionals and firms bidding on public contracts under New Jersey’s Local Public Contracts Law, Public School Contracts Law, or similar statutes. The bill mandates that contractors provide proof of insurance to the government entity before awarding contracts and makes the insurance declarations page publicly available on relevant state or municipal websites. This creates a concrete requirement for professional liability coverage, distinct from standard insurance, to address potential negligence or mistakes in these high-stakes services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires cable companies to provide free broadband Internet service and necessary equipment (like routers) to public libraries and other municipal buildings - including fire stations, police stations, and public schools - when applying for or renewing a system-wide cable franchise. For standard municipal franchises, the requirement is limited to providing free service to at least one public library per municipality. The Internet service must be business-class quality, with bandwidth and capacity tailored to each library’s specific needs. This applies to all new or renewed franchise agreements approved after the bill takes effect.